X
CRIME, POLICE + COURTS

EXCLUSIVE: Syracuse Neighbors, “we’ve never had anything like this happen”

UPDATED: MAY 3, 2023 AT 1:00 PM
BY
Reporter, Utah's Morning News

SYRACUSE, Utah — Neighbors who witnessed an officer-involved shooting in Syracuse last night are recounting the tense moments that led up to it.

Syracuse Police said they got a call from a man who said his estranged mother was sending him text messages threatening both of their lives.

When police arrived at the home near 1900 West 2350 South, they said they confronted the 52-year-old woman. She was allegedly holding a gun in a way that threatened her own life.

“We’ve lived here eight years…this is completely new and a shock,” said Amber Hong who lives just a couple doors away. Hong heard the commotion around 10 o’clock.

“When I looked out I saw there was quite a bit of officers here in the front yard area,” said Hong. “And they had a vehicle parked halfway in the road up on this neighbors yard here. Officers were just yelling, ‘please put down the gun put down the gun’.”

Accordingly, a press release states at some point the woman, “moved the weapon in an aggressive manner and pointed it at the officers,” 

At that point officers fired, hitting the woman multiple times. She was taken to a nearby hospital.

Jolene and Bill Carter live a few doors down from the shooting. They say they heard 10 to 12 gunshots right around 10:20 p.m. last night.

“I thought it was firecrackers,” Jolene said.

“It was very quick…I hurried and shut the front door,” Hong said.

Additionally, multiple neighbors tell KSL Newsradio the family living at the site of the shooting moved in not too long ago. The Carter’s say, they’re keeping them in thought.

“They’re a nice family, this is a very peaceful neighborhood. I mean we’ve never had anything like this happen,” said Jolene. “It’s just a sad situation.”

At one point, the Carter’s said the police asked them and others in the area to shelter in place which was eventually lifted.

Neighbors just one door down said they were contacted by police after their car caught a stray bullet.

An update on the woman’s condition in the hospital will follow.